Russia- a Terrorist State, Baltic States Back Ukraine, Russian Combat Losses

Points of note for today:

• Aljazeera reports first war crimes trail of Russian soldier will begin.
• Also causing a stir with Russia, Finland will join NATO, with Sweden likely to follow within days.
• UKRINFORM website reports Russia has used about 70% of its arsenal of high-precision missiles.
• The same site reports that Russia is unable to fully restore the combat capability of military units withdrawn from Ukraine.
• Add Bulgaria to the list of countries to keep an eye on as another Putin apologist, a former Bulgarian presidential advisor, works to destabilise Bulgaria and in crease support of Russia.

Finally, while we would like to believe that all large, multi-national companies are supporting Ukraine and have left Russia, this is not the case. Companies such as Nestle, MARS, Danone, Procter & Gamble, Philip Morris, and PepsiCo to name a few, are still doing business in Russia to one degree or another- still selling products, selling a limited range of products, and paying employees (and therefore taxes to the Russian government).

The following is reposted from the Telegram channel Center for Countering Disinformation, 11-12 May, 2022:

Russia as a terrorist state-

Given the beginning of Western countries’ recognition of Russia as a terrorist state, it is necessary to inform about the consequences of such a decision for it

• A state sponsor of terrorism is a country that, in accordance with the official position of the US State Department, provides support for acts of international terrorism.
• 10.05.2022 – Lithuania recognizes Russia as a terrorist country. The Lithuanian Seimas has adopted a resolution recognizing Russia as a terrorist state.
• 10.05.2022 – the US Senate registered a resolution recognizing Russia as a sponsor of terrorism.

Inclusion on such a list entails severe economic and political sanctions, including:

• ban on arms supplies (export and sale)
• control over the export of dual-use goods
• ban on economic aid
• various financial and other restrictions

Baltic States deny Russian propaganda victory- 

Russian propaganda claims that the campaign launched by the governments of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to recognize Russia as an aggressor country is not supported by the Russian-speaking population of these countries

But the kremlin’s hopes of using Russian-speaking minorities to justify the special operation proved futile.

🔺On April 21, the parliamentarians of Estonia and Latvia recognized the Russian actions as genocide of the Ukrainian people
🔺Latvian opposition Harmony party, which represents the interests of Russian-born voters, unanimously condemned the aggression
🔺Estonian faction of the Centrist Party, based on the Russian-speaking electorate, signed a statement in support of Ukraine
🔺Lithuanian parliamentarians unanimously adopted a resolution recognizing Russia as a state that supports and commits terrorism
🔺According to a survey conducted by the Baltic agency SKDS, 68% of Russian-speaking respondents support Ukraine, take part in actions in support of Ukraine and help refugees.

 

Russian combat losses as of 12 May, 2022

 

Russian Combat Losses as of 02 April, 2022; Hungarian Elections

Latest combat loss update from the Telegram channel The Center for Countering Disinformation. Numbers in black show previous day’s totals, red are those added for yesterday.

Russian combat losses as of 02 April, 2022

 

An aside, tomorrow is the parliamentary election in Hungary. There is every indication that Viktor Orban will win, for various reasons, some of which may be the actual support of a portion of the populace. His support outside the country was impacted by his decisions on Ukraine assistance. From a Foreign Policy article from 31 March, 2022:

Hungary, a member of NATO, has not offered any military assistance to Ukraine, will not allow lethal aid from other states to cross its territory, and has promised to block European Union sanctions on Russian oil and gas, arguing it would impact Hungarian households that are already struggling with headline inflation at 8.3 percent.

As a final note we must remember that the people of Russia are not our enemies. They are prisoners, hostages of Putin’s  mafia state. But this cannot be an excuse for their lack of action any longer- now is time for them to stand up and fight. If they have half the courage of the people of Ukraine, they can retake their country from their crazed dictator, his cronies, followers, commanders in his nationalist mafia state army, and FSB.

🇺🇦 Glory to Ukraine!

Ukraine Needs Equipment- Russians are Welcome to Contribute

From the Telegraph channel Ищи своих posted 01 April, 2022 (this is a translation from Google Translate of the text located at the bottom of the post). Tremendous incentive to surrender- money, not to mention the possibility of staying alive, and maybe even escape from Russia for good.

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (the Parliament of Ukraine) adopted a law providing for the establishment of material rewards for the transfer to the Armed Forces of Ukraine of military equipment suitable for use by Russian invaders. The reward is expected both for the military of the Russian Federation and for citizens of Ukraine.

It is envisaged to establish remuneration for military personnel of the armed forces, other power structures of the Russian Federation, as well as military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, other structures of the Ukrainian security and defense sector, citizens for voluntarily transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, suitable for use, military equipment of the aggressor state in the following amounts:

– combat aircraft (fighter and attack aircraft) – $1,000,000;

– combat helicopter – $500,000;

– multiple launch rocket system – 25,000 – 35,000 dollars;

– tank, ground artillery (self-propelled) – $100,000;

– an infantry fighting vehicle (landing), an armored personnel carrier, an armored reconnaissance and patrol vehicle – $50,000;

– a military vehicle (truck, specialized), a military tractor, military engineering vehicles: reconnaissance, demining, minefields, bridge-laying, barriers, for laying paths, for earthmoving, for overcoming water obstacles – $ 10,000;

– ship of the 1st or 2nd rank – 1,000,000 dollars;

– a ship of 3 or 4 ranks – 500,000 dollars;

– military (auxiliary) support vessel – $200,000;

– a small-sized combat (reconnaissance) vessel – $50,000.

 

Верховная Рада Украины приняла закон, предусматривающий установление материального вознаграждения за передачу Вооруженным Силам Украины пригодной для использования боевой техники российских захватчиков. Вознаграждение предполагается как для военных РФ, так и для граждан Украины.

Предусмотрено установить вознаграждение военнослужащим вооруженных сил, других силовых структур РФ, а также военнослужащим Вооруженных сил Украины, других структур украинского сектора безопасности и обороны, гражданам за добровольно переданную ВСУ, пригодную для применения боевую технику государства-агрессора в следующих размерах:

– боевого самолета (истребительной и штурмовой авиации) – 1 000 000 долларов;

– боевого вертолета – 500 000 долларов;

– реактивной системы залпового огня – 25 000 – 35 000 долларов;

– танка, наземной артиллерии (самоходной) – 100 000 долларов;

– боевой машины пехоты (десанта), бронетранспортера, бронированной разведывательно-дозорной машины – 50 000 долларов;

– военного автомобиля (грузового, специализированного), военного тягача, военных инженерных машин: разведки, разминирования, минного заграждения, мостоукладных, разграждения, для прокладки путей, для осуществления землеройных работ, для преодоления водных препятствий – 10 000 долларов;

– корабля 1 или 2 ранга – 1 000 000 долларов;

– корабля 3 или 4 ранга – 500 000 долларов;

– судна военного (вспомогательного) обеспечения – 200 000 долларов;

– судна малогабаритного боевого (разведывательного) назначения – 50 000 долларов.

Glory to Ukraine! 🇺🇦

Russia Needs Soldiers- New Conscription Order

From the Telegraph channel Ищи своих –

Here is the translation:

DECREE
PRESIDENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
on the conscription in April – July 2022 of citizens of the Russian Federation for military service and on the dismissal from military service of citizens undergoing military service on conscription
Guided by federal laws of May 31, 1996 No. 61-FZ “On Defense” and of March 28, 1998 No. 53-FZ “On Military Duty and Military Service”, I decided:
1. From April 1 to July 15, 2022, call up for military service citizens of the Russian Federation aged 18 to 27 years who are not in the reserve and are subject in accordance with Federal Law of March 28, 1998 N 53-FZ “On military duty and military service” call for military service, in the amount of 134,500 people.
2. In accordance with the Federal Law of March 28, 1998 N 53-FZ “On Military Duty and Military Service”, the dismissal from military service of soldiers, sailors, sergeants and foremen whose term of military service on conscription has expired.
3. The Government of the Russian Federation, executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation and draft commissions to ensure the implementation of measures related to the conscription of citizens of the Russian Federation for military service.
4. Federal ministers, heads of federal services and federal agencies to ensure the implementation of the provisions of the Federal Law of March 28, 1998 N 53-FZ “On military duty and military service” in relation to citizens of the Russian Federation who are not in the reserve and are subject to conscription for

The text ends there; only the one page was posted on Telegraph. But it says enough.